Shuttle-positioning means.



R. CROMPTON.

SHUTTLE POSITIONING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, I915.

Patented June 15, 1915.

(1- 1. 1 29 1a 2% 36 I (35 I I a W Q L? w U jnven Z07 RANDOLPHCROMPTON, F CHATHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE-POSITIONING MEANS.

' I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed April 14, 1915. Serial No. 21,411.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANDOLPH GRoMrToN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chatham, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusettahave invented an Improvement in Shuttle-Positioning Means, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to shuttle positioning means and more particularly to means whereby the shuttle is locked in position in its box to permit effective replenishment of its filling carrier.

V In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse section taken through the loom having my invention applied thereto, but omitting unnecessary parts; Fig. 2 is a plan view of shuttle looking means constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section upon the line 14 of Fig. 3 and looking toward the right in said figure; and Fig. 5 is a detail in transverse section of a portion of one end of the shuttle.

Many attempts have heretofore been made to position the shuttle accurately for weft replenishment, but so far as I am aware without satisfactory results. The flash or movement of the shuttle into its box is so quick that it is impossible,-in a loom operating at high speed, to knock or move apart, member or device out of the path of the shuttle and get it back again in timeto catch'the shuttle and hold it in its proper position. It is also impossible, in a loom operating at high speed, to allow the shuttle to box and to flash or rebound from the picker and then to push the shuttle back again into place in time to permit the auto matic change of filling carriers. Devices embodying the above principles have been tried in the mills but without satisfactory results in a loom operating at a high speed, such. as has been necessary under present day conditions. 7

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide shuttle positioning means so constructed and arranged that the shuttle does not knock or move anything out of its path when entering the shuttle box. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the shuttle positioning means cooperating with the shuttle is, during the boxing of the shuttle, always in its operative position to restrain the shuttle from rebounding and is moved out of such position to allow the shuttle to be picked. Preferably the means co acting with the shuttle has a fixed relation with respect to the path of movement of the shuttle during the entire boxing action of the shuttle and preferably the shuttle is provided with means rigid therewith or held in fixed position and adapted to engage with said co-acting shuttle positioning means.

NVithin the broad scope and purpose of my invention, many changes may be made while carrying out the principle thereof. So far as I am aware, no one has ever heretofore positioned a shuttle by co-acting means having the above characteristics and others hereinafter set forth, and I desire to claim the same broadly.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have in Fig. 1 represented the right hand end frame of the loom at 1. Therein it is pivoted at 2, the usual lay swords 3 having a lay, 1, and the cam shaft 5 provided with the customary weft cam whereby 5 through the detecting movement of the weft fork and the weft hammer, the loom may be stopped in the event of weft fault or failure.

.The shuttle box is indicated generally at 6 in Fig. 1 and the co-acting picker stick at 7. The shuttle box may be of any desired construction, but preferably is provided with a resilient binder 8 pivoted at 9. Preferably, however, though not mess sarily, I omit the usual leather facing from 5 thelsaid binder. The shuttle is indicated at' 10 andmay be of any suitable construction. It is herein represented as having a weft carrier 11 held therein by suitable jaws 12, permitting ejection of the exhausted filllng carrier during the replenishing action. An important object of my invention is to effect the exact positioning of the shuttle for weft replenishment. Y

I have herein represented the shuttle 10 as having a plate or member 13 fixed thereto in any suitable manner, as, for example, by, screws 14:. Said plate may be of any suitable material, as, for example, of hardened steel, but within the scope of my invention, no

the shuttle may be so integrally shaped or formed as to co-act with the shuttle positioning means. Preferably said plate is 7,

provided with teeth 15, which are here shown as graduated in size from the end 16 nearest the adjacent tip of the shuttle. Preferably the teeth do not project beyond the wall or face ofthe shuttle.

' I provide the shuttle box with suitable co-acting shuttle positioning means. I use this language in a broad sense, inasmuch as ber 17, whereon I mount for rocking movement a lever 18, the outer end whereof has pivotally mounted thereon a pinion 19, which throughout the boxing of the shuttle is held in 'fixed position to intercept the path of movement of the shuttle and in such thereof is a pawl 21 mounted at 22 upon the lever 18, the construction and'relationbeing relation that the teeth 15 of the plate 13 upon the shuttle mesh withthe teeth of said pin-ion. coaxial with the pinion 19 is a ratchet 20 and engaging with the teeth such that as'the shuttle enters its box, the teeth 15 of the plate 13 engage the teeth of the pinion 19 and effect a rolling rela tion or engagement of said plate and pinion until the tip 23 of the shuttle strikes the" picker 7. Rebound of the shuttle, owing to its engagement with the picker is, however, prevented by theratch'et and pawl 20, 21,

' and therefore the shuttleis accurately held in proper position for replenishment. I

provide any suitable means co-acting with the lever 18 to hold the same in its fixed position during the boxing of the shuttle.

For that purpose, I have represented aplate spring 2 1 mounted upon the shuttle box and bearing against the lever 18. The strength of said spring is such as to hold said lever 18 with its pinion 19 in fixed and essentially 1 rigid relation with respect to the shuttle and its plate 13. In order to permit the ensuing pick of the shuttle, I provide means to disengage the pinion 19 from the teeth 15 of the shuttle just prior to such ensuing pick of the shuttle. l/Vhile for this purpose, I may provide any suitable means, I have herein represented the cam shaft 5 as having fixed thereon a cam 25, which is so shaped and positioned as to act just priorto the action of the cam, or means whereby the picker 7 is actuated to pick the shuttle from I said box- 6. .Pivoted at asuitable point 26:

upon the frame of the loom, I have represented a lever 27 having apart 28 bearing upon the cam 25, which during each rotation acts to impart a lifting movement to said'lever. A suitable spring 29 is provided to return said lever to normal position and to hold it constantly in engagement with said caml25. In order to prevent the movement of the lay 3 from interfering with the described movement of the lever 27, I preferably-provide a sliding or movable connection between said parts. Forthat purpose, I have herein represented the lay and lay sword 3, a as having upper and lewer guides 30, 31, within which is mounted for sliding movement a suitable.verticalrod 32 having attached thereto a block 33, the said block and the lever 27 being connected by'a link 31 suitably pivoted to each of said parts. The lever 27 and the rod 32 constitute one form of means for effecting disengagement of the pinion 29-from therack or plate 13. Forthat purpose, I have represented the:

upper end of said rod 32 asforked at 35 and receiving within said. forked portion the arm 36 of a bell crank lever'pivoted at 37" and having'ian. arm 38zadaptedto. engage a suitably shaped end 39 of the lever 18. The construction and relation of the parts are suchthat after the boxing ofthe shuttle and prior to the next ensuing picker thereof, the rod '32 is'lifted and the lever 3 6,:38is rocked upon its pivot 37 sons to vpress the,

inner onlonger arm'outwardly the opposite 1 T:

arm of said lever, carrying therewith the pinion 19, the .teeth of which are thereby.

disengaged from the-teeth 15, thus freeing the shuttle for itsnext pick.

Q In order to insurethemeshing of the teeth of the pinion 19 with the teeth 15 of theplateor M01113, .1 graduate the size of the teeth of the latterorrvary them in suitable manner, as I have found upon experiment ing that by providing teeth of such form,

the liability ofnon meshing engagement of j said teeth is avoided. V If desired, I may provide 'meanswhereby the entire mechanisnrmay; .befheld out of 7 action until the weft carrier, assuming the weft remains unbrokem is nearlyexhausted',,

inasmuchas it isimnecessaryto position-the shuttle with absolutelaccuracy, if weft re-i plenishment is notto occur. suchholding out means need not, however, be employed. From the foregoingdescriptiomit will be apparent that'I have; provided means held 7 or fixed in*intercepting relation with the path of the shuttle, whereby the latter is accurately held 7 or positioned for replenishment. a 7

While I have described my invention as particularlyapplicable for weft replenishment, it is apparent that I am in no-wise limited to such use of my invention.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of myinvention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor,

a shuttle having a series of holding projec tions, co-acting holding means held in position to engage said holding means in the entering or boxing movement of the shuttle, and being constructed and arranged to permit said holding projections to pass freely in one direction only, and means to permit picking of the shuttle from said box.

2. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle, said shuttle box and shuttle having shuttle positioning means in constant alining relation with each other in the path of the shuttle throughout the boxing action of the shuttle in said box and means to hold said positioning means upon the shuttle box in position to prevent displacement of the shuttle upon boxing.

3. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said shuttle box and shuttle being provided with shuttle positioning means having a rolling interengagement with each other and means to hold said positioning means upon the shuttle box in position to prevent displacement of the shuttle upon boxing.

4:- In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said shuttle box and shuttle being provided with shuttle positioning means having a rolling relation with each other and means to hold said positioning means upon the shuttle box in position to prevent displacement of the shuttle upon boxing.

5. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said shuttle box and shuttle being provided with shuttle positioning means having a toothed engagement with each other.

6. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having rack and pinion shuttle positioning means. 7. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having rack and pinion shuttle positioning means, and means to disengage said rack and pinion means for the ensuing pick of the shuttle.

8. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having rack and pinion shuttle positioning means, and means to disengage said rack and pinion means just prior to the ensuing pick of the shuttle.

9. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having rack and pinion shuttle positioning means, and a ratchet, whereby movement of said pinion in one direction only is permitted.

10. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having rack and pinion shuttle positioning means, and a ratchet, whereby movement of said pinion in one direction only is permitted, and means to effect disengagement of said rack and pinion for the ensuing pick of the shuttle.

11. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having co-acting holding means in engaging position during the boxing of the shuttle, means to maintain said holding means upon the shuttle box in position to prevent displacement of the shuttle upon boxing, and co-acting means to prevent rebound of the shuttle upon boxing.

12. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle, said box and shuttle having co-acting holding means in engaging position during the boxing of the shuttle, means to maintain said holding means upon the shuttle box in position to prevent displacement of the shuttle upon boxing, coacting means to prevent rebound of the shuttle upon boxing, and means to remove said holding means from holding position to per mit picking of the shuttle 13. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box there for, a shuttle, shuttle engaging, positioning means having a substantially fixed bodily position during the entire boxing movement of the shuttle, in the path of movement of the shuttle, means to maintain said positioning means in such position during such boxing action, and co-acting means to prevent rebound of the shuttle upon boxing.

14. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle having projections extending from the face thereof, shuttle positioning means having a substantially fixed bodily position during the boxing movement of the shuttle, in the path of movement of the shuttle, and means to maintain said positioning means in such position during such boxing action.

15. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle, said shuttle and shuttle box having co-acting, toothed member at least one of which has teeth of varying size.

16. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle, said shuttle and shuttle box having co-acting, toothed members, at least one of which has graduated teeth.

17. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor and a shuttle having a toothed portion, the teeth whereof are of varying size, and coacting shuttle positioning means to engage said teeth.

18. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle, said shuttle having a toothed portion, the teeth whereof are graduated in size, and shuttle positioning means to engage said teeth.

19. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box therefor, a shuttle, fixed means upon the shuttle, and

engaging shuttle positioning meanshaving 'In testimony whereof I have signed my a substantially fixed'bodily position during name to-this-specitication, in the presence of the entire boxing movement of the shuttle, two subscribing Witnesses.

in the path of the movement of the shuttle, RANDOLPH CROMPTON. and means to maintain said positioning "Witnesses: I 1 means in such position during such boxing JAMES F. CARBERRY,

action. V MAUD E. THOMPSON.

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